Edmonton Same Story & Second Story Home Additions
Should I build a main floor addition or should add a second story?
The first thing to consider is the residence and the property that the residence is situated on. If your property is within a city or town there could be restrictions on things like the square footage of the buildings allowed on the property as a percentage of the land available. With most property in the Edmonton area, a property owner is allowed to build site coverage of 40% of which 28% is the main residence and the other 12% would be for outbuildings such as a garage. In most situations this percentage is well within what most homes are originally designed for and with lot setbacks and side yard setbacks, driveways and easements, it takes careful planning to fit the home within the existing lot, especially if the lot is pie shaped or an irregular size. There may also be other things that one should take into consideration such as if you are in a mature neighborhood, there maybe demands placed on you to conform with the existing architecture or historical flavor that is throughout the neighborhood.
Once you have determined how much room you have to develop within the lot, it makes sense to sit down with your family and discuss your families//needs, wants and other such factors that you will have to consider when planning an addition.
For a list of questions for your family to consider when deciding whether or not to do an addition renovation, visit our Addition Q&A Session page.